Lateral rear region of a motor vehicle comprising an air directing device, and motor vehicle

Abstract

A lateral rear region of a motor vehicle has a rear body member which extends at least behind a rear wheel housing of the motor vehicle, an air directing device, and an air guidance element of the air directing device. The air guidance element is displaceable relative to the rear body member between a rest position in which it is retracted into the lateral rear region and an operating position in which it is extended out of the lateral rear region in such a way that, in the retracted rest position of the air guidance element, a flow guide surface of the air guidance element is covered by the rear body member. In the extended operating position of the air guidance element, the flow guide surface of the air guidance element is displaced towards the rear, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lateral rear region of a motor vehicle, said lateral rear region comprising:
 a rear body member which extends at least partially behind a rear wheel housing of the motor vehicle; and   an air directing device having an air guidance element, the air guidance element being displaceable relative to the rear body member between:   (i) a rest position, wherein in the rest position of the air guidance element, the air guidance element is retracted into the lateral rear region and a flow guide surface of the air guidance element is covered by the rear body member, and   (ii) an operating position, wherein in the operating position of the air guidance element the air guidance element is extended out of the lateral rear region, wherein as compared to the rest position, in the operating position of the air guidance element, the flow guide surface of the air guidance element is (a) displaced rearwardly as seen in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle and (b) displaced to an outside of the motor vehicle as seen in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The lateral rear region according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the operating position of the air guidance element, a front surface of the flow guide surface of the air guidance element extends flush with an outer surface of the rear body member directly adjoining the flow guide surface of the air guidance element. 
     
     
         3 . The lateral rear region according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the rest position of the air guidance element, the flow guide surface of the air guidance element is completely retracted into the lateral rear region. 
     
     
         4 . The lateral rear region according to  claim 1 , wherein the air directing device further comprises a guide and drive unit which guides and drives the air guidance element during the displacement relative to the rear body member. 
     
     
         5 . The lateral rear region according to  claim 4 , wherein the guide and drive unit has at least one fixed guide rail and at least one sliding block which is configured to be displaced relative to the fixed guide rail, the air guidance element engaging with at least one guide bolt in a guide groove of the fixed guide rail and in at least one guide groove of the sliding block. 
     
     
         6 . The lateral rear region according to  claim 5 , wherein the guide and drive unit includes a drive which displaces (i) the sliding block relative to the guide rail and (ii) the air guidance element relative to the rear body member via the sliding block. 
     
     
         7 . The lateral rear region according to  claim 5 , wherein the guide groove of the respective guide rail has a first guide section for displacing the at least one guide bolt, and thus the air guidance element of the air directing device, in the longitudinal direction or mainly in the longitudinal direction of the rear region or of the motor vehicle and at least one second guide section for the displacement of the at least one guide bolt, and thus of the air guidance element of the air directing device, in the transverse direction or mainly in the transverse direction of the rear region or of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The lateral rear region according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one guide groove of the sliding block is curvedly contoured and extends obliquely to the guide sections of the respective guide rail. 
     
     
         9 . The lateral rear region according to  claim 5 , wherein the guide and drive unit comprises an upper fixed guide rail and a lower fixed guide rail, wherein a sliding block cooperates with each guide rail, and wherein two upper guide bolts are positioned within the guide grooves of the upper guide rail and the upper sliding block, and wherein a single lower guide bolt is positioned within the guide grooves of the lower guide rail and the lower sliding block. 
     
     
         10 . The lateral rear region according to  claim 5 , wherein the guide and drive unit has a housing, the at least one fixed guide rail and the at least one sliding block being arranged in an interior of the housing, wherein protrusions of the air guidance element extend from a side of the air guidance element facing away from the flow guide surface with portions through slots in the housing into the housing, and wherein the guide bolts of the air guidance element are formed or arranged on the portions of the protrusions of the air guidance element arranged in the housing. 
     
     
         11 . A motor vehicle having two lateral rear regions according to  claim 1 .